Cooking Thai food yourself, precisely the way you want them, is a certain way to get those brilliant, BOLD Thai tastes. Although you may need a few Thai ingredient basics, most Thai food is relatively simple, quick, and easy to prepare. However, if you are looking for fingerlicking dishes in the menu of a Thai restaurant and couldn’t decide which one to choose. We have the solution for you. In this article we are going to discuss the top 10 classical Thai dishes which you must try.
Thailand‘s cuisine is masterful at luring foodies under its fragrant spell. Its thick and creamy curries, aromatic sauces, flavorful appetizers, and tempting desserts will lure you to return time and time again. The secret of any Thai cuisine is the five major flavors – sour, bitter, salty, sweet, and spicy – by balancing them precisely.
As a result, each Thai meal is never plain, always delivering the much-needed punch to your tongue. You’ll discover lots of real Thai dishes here, from normal Thai curries to Pad Thais, soups like Tom Yum and Tom Kha Gai, and local favorites like Pad Krapow Gai, Laab Meatballs, and Thai fish cakes. We have compiled a list of top 10 classic Thai dishes below. Choose your pick!
Take a look at our list of top 10 classic Thai dishes one must try:
1. Pad Thai (Thai Style Fried Noodles)
Pad thai is one of Thailand’s national meals, and it’s a must-try for visitors who are just getting started with Thai cuisine. Pad thai is a fried noodle dish that is commonly served with shrimp or chicken, but vegetarian options are also popular.
Pad thai is an inexpensive and excellent dinner that can be found on practically every street corner.
2. Tom Yum Goong (Spicy Shrimp Soup)
This legendary bowl of steaming delight is robust, fragrant, and has a decent amount of heat. Lemongrass, chili, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, shallots, fresh lime juice, and a generous amount of fish sauce are used to make tom yum goong.
If you prefer a creamy version, add fresh prawns and mushrooms, as well as coconut cream.
3. Som Tam (Spicy Green Papaya Salad)
Som tam is one of Thailand’s most popular meals, hailing from Isaan in northeastern Thailand. Shredded green papaya, tomatoes, carrots, peanuts, dried shrimp, runner beans, palm sugar, tamarind pulp, fish sauce, lime juice, garlic, and lots of chiles make up the original som tam.
The flavors are amplified by using a mortar and pestle to combine the components into a highly moreish meal.
4. Pad Phuk Tong (Stir-Fried Pumpkin)
Pad phuk tong, or stir-fried pumpkin, is one of the greatest vegetarian-friendly meals in the Land of Smiles. While it may be more difficult to come by than a plate of pad thai, you should keep an eye out for this meal.
You’ll be laughing if you order it with a dish of brown rice if it’s offered.
5. Yam Pla Dook Foo (Fried Catfish with Green Mango Salad)
The finest adjectives to describe this meal are ‘fluffy’ and ‘crispy.’ Catfish is fried in small bits (read: “blown up”), resulting in a light, fluffy, and delectable fish salad.
The combination of crispy fish with sweet, tangy, and spicy green mango salad is the key to this dish’s success. This meal is best served as an appetizer or as a beer snack with a group of friends.
6. Pak Boong (Morning glory)
Morning glory (pak boong) is noted for its high nutritional value. This spinach-like vegetable is usually fried and seasoned with soybean paste, soy sauce, garlic, and chilies, among other things.
Morning glory is salty, spicy, sour, and crunchy all at once, pleasing the palate of any foodie. Although oyster sauce is commonly used in this meal, a vegetarian version is also available.
7. Gaeng Keow Wan (Green Curry)
Green curry, which hails from central Thailand, is the spiciest of the bunch, with just the right amount of sweetness thanks to the coconut milk. Green curry is produced with some of the most delectable ingredients, such as fresh green chilies, ginger, eggplant, and plenty of coconut milk.
To temper the heat, serve with plenty of steaming rice.
8. Khao Soi (creamy coconut curry noodle soup)
Khao soi is a Burmese-inspired coconut curry noodle soup that is considered the archetypal northern Thai meal. This delectable meal includes a thick coconut curry sauce, boiled egg noodles, and is topped with deep-fried crispy egg noodles, pickled mustard greens, shallots, lime, and crushed chillies cooked in oil.
It’s available in chicken, beef, pig, or vegetarian varieties.
9. Pad See Ew (Thick Noodle Dish)
This meal consists of broad rice noodles stir-fried with chicken, pig, or beef, as well as Chinese broccoli or cabbage, in a rich black soy sauce. It’s a tasty yet safe alternative for individuals who can’t stomach spicy Thai foods but still want to move away from pad thai.
Dried chili flakes, vinegar, or both can be used to give the dish a bit extra oomph.
10. Tom Kha Gai (Chicken in Coconut Soup)
Tom kha gai is similar to tom yum and allows folks with a lower spicy tolerance to enjoy the same delicious flavors. Aside from the spice level, Tom kha gai is distinguished by the presence of a large amount of creamy coconut milk, which results in a rich, sweet soup.
Vegetarian choices, like most Thai dishes, are simply customizable by swapping out a few components.
Although Thai cuisine has been inspired by other Southeast Asian cuisines such as Indian and Chinese, it still manages to stand out. Top 10 classic Thai dishes are listed above. We guarantee you won’t regret tasting any one of them.
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